Mohawk Group, Groundswell, Elevate Energy, and other partners in on Chicago’s Southside collaborated in June 2018 to unveil the first in a series of Smartflower™ solar systems. Mohawk Group is a global commercial flooring company with a commitment to sustainability.
The Smartflower™ installation at The Renaissance Collaborative (TRC) in the Bronzeville community kicked off the introduction of 10 units across the U.S. TRC is a community development corporation that exists to promote self-sufficiency for members of the Bronzeville community through an innovative and comprehensive network of supportive housing, employment, and educational services. The campus that serves as the site of the new Smartflower™ includes a historic multi-story building — originally the Wabash Avenue YMCA — which now houses more than 100 formerly homeless adults.
The project will bring the benefits of clean solar power to the area, create educational opportunities, and contribute to Mohawk’s sustainability efforts.
Each Smartflower™ system will be established in an underserved community near educational institutions with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs.
